A Revolution in Education – Series 2

This is a special SUMMER edition podcast of Season 2 of our A Revolution in Education podcast, a collaboration between Jim McCue and two students at the Charlotte Lab School, Albert (Tré) Kirton III and his friend Branson Flynn, joined by Charlotte Lab leaders Mary Moss, Ricky Singh, and Vikki-Rose Tunick, and fellow students John Harmon and Kylie Southivongnorath.  Mary, Vikki-Rose, and Ricky share how the Lab School started (and why they started it) and the students share their first impressions of the school and the impact it has had on them.  Everyone speaks to “the Lab Way,” focusing on relationships, WHO each student is, diversity by design, rigor and innovation, learning in the real world, and self-discovery through their advisory.  What we appreciate about this episode is that Tré and Branson embraced the opportunity to co-produce the podcast, co-designing the format, making the arrangements, hosting the conversation, and even editing the final product.  As we say, we believe in giving youth the opportunity to learn through meaningful, authentic experiences.  And here again is yet one more example of what is possible when you do.  Enjoy!

My good friend and co-host of Season 2 of a Revolution in Education, Jim McCue, and I were blessed to have three students from Barrington High School join us as a team in the production of this podcast series.  Jack Culton, Xan Maddock-Mark, and Hunter Kuchenbaur, joined us in this effort.  One thing we both deeply believe is that youth should learn about the world, explore their interests, and pursue their passions through authentic activity in the world.  In this podcast, Hunter references a quote from a former One Stone student who says, "Why are you preparing for me to be in the world when I want to be in the world right now." Jim and I both believe that engaging youth in real-world, authentic activity is the best way to assist and support youth in exploring and discovering their potential interests as well come to discover, develop, and pursue their skills in making a difference in the world.  Having Jack, Xan, and Hunter become the production team for our podcast, as well as the primary designers of our website and architects of our social media pursuits, and for us to work AS a team not only benefited us ... but we hope them too.  Which you can hear about here.  Take a listen!

Join two of our HS student interns, Hunter Kuchenbaur and Xan Maddock-Mark at Barrington RI High School, talk with Sanjli Gidwaney, Director of Design for Change USA, and  two amazing youth, Minnah from Raleigh NC and Daniel from NYC, about how Design for Change has created an opportunity for them to make a real difference in the world – and in doing so, come to feel empowered as change agents and learners in the world.  Minnah, for example, shares how she and her fellow students obtained, cleaned, and furnished an apartment for a Syrian refugee family in her hometown of Raleigh, in addition to raising $2,500 for their purchase of a car.  Later, they worked on the reconciliation of George Taylor, a prominent figure who was lynched in 1819, which eventually led to her meeting the Pope in Rome.  (How about that?).  And Daniel, who led a “hand washing” campaign at his school to combat the spread of germs which then also led them to Taiwan and eventually Rome to share and discuss their projects.  In the end, Minnah says “This education system doesn't teach you as much as it should about the real world.”  Later, Minnah, Daniel, Hunter, Xan, and Sanjli share how THEY would design their K-12 school.  All say MORE authentic, personal connections to and work in real-world so that they can “discover themselves,” "explore what they can do," and “find the things that they love.”  Our two wonderful student interns share their thoughts on the need to transform education for student agency and possibility.  And Chris, as usual, shares his.  Doesn't get much better than that, no?  Take a listen now!  And check out Design for Change!About The Revolutionaries Sanjli GidwaneyDesign for Change Students

In the center of Denver, on the corner of Navajo Street and W 37th Avenue exists three entities: Pinwheel Coffee, Framework Cycles, and Embark Education.  But the big story here is  Embark Education, an alternative, learner-centered middle school where the focus is on supporting young adolescents' curiosity in learning, "supporting students to courageously inquire, engage, and discover a sense of self."  The school focuses as much on typical academics as it does on their students' social development and interpersonal growth.  Listen here to Miguel Gonzalez, Director of the School, and Megan Parry, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, and four of their students – Elijah, Eireann, Hayes, and Jazmin – talk about the design of the school and how it has given students the opportunity to own their own learning.  As Eireann says, "It's about MY learning."  And as Hayes adds, "I'm a lot happier here."  She and the others talk about how the community supports their learning by focusing on who they are and how they best learn.  Pinwheel Coffee and Framework Cycles are businesses where they can apply and extend their learning, but the real power of Embark is in its design of learning and the focus on youth – empowering their learning.  Give a listen!About The RevolutionariesMiguel GonzalezMegan Parry Embark Students

My friend Cath Fraise is ALWAYS creating, making, and dreaming of how to bringing learning to youth with a focus on their becoming agentic, self-directed agents of their own lives.  Several years ago she created Workspace Education, which Chris went to see and then was blown away by.  And since has been assisting and supporting others who want to create their own local version of workspace in their communities, through 100 Roads.  Now she is building a Workspace in the Sky, a virtual co-learning community space for youth to be self-directed in their learning, find peers to work and learn with and from, offer multiple avenues for learning, support youth with ongoing advising and coaching, AND support parents in how THEY can best assist and support their children to be self-actualized.  Amazing, amazing, amazing.In this episode, Jim and Chris talked with Cath about why she does what she does (the 1st half of the podcast, recorded in late December 2020) and then Chris catches up with Cath in early June 2021 to see how her plans are taking shape to create her new learning space.It all feels like "Alice in Wonderland" to Chris.  In such a good, remarkable, and amazing way.  Listen!About The RevolutionariesCath Fraise

It's amazing how individuals from around the world come together around the same desire and purpose – to impact education for youth and the teachers in our systems.  Hear how and why Vanessa Wilkins from Oregon with a background in leading efforts with Nike and Harvard, James Harris from his schooling in Oakland and subsequent President of the Oakland School Board, and Sanjili Gilway, by way of Toronto and now in the US supporting youth engage in projects that impact their community and the lives of others talk about their efforts.  A special episode hearing from those coming from very different histories but sharing the pursuit of making a difference for others in education.About The RevolutionariesVanessa WilkinsJames HarrisSanjili GidwaneyVinay Gidwaney

What we love so much about this episode of A Revolution in Education podcast is the apparent respectful, collegial and caring relationship evidenced in the back and forth conversation between Antonio Boyd, Executive Vice President at Future of School, and Zelda Waymer, President and Chief Executive Office at South Carolina Afterschool Alliance.  These two have been working in South Carolina and beyond for years in the best interest of youth, with a specific interest in providing learning experiences that will propel youth in disadvantaged communities.  In this conversation, they hit upon the importance of relationships in forging partnerships that are mutually beneficial and extend beyond the usual give and take.  Antonio also tells of his many years galvanizing efforts to extend youth's opportunity.  And Zelda shares her years of work galvanizing political support of her efforts, as well as a once fleeting interest in starting a trucking business.  In the end, they give Chris “finger snaps” for his proclamation that this effort to transform our systems to better support and create opportunity for all youth is a civil rights movement.  Let's GO!  Finger snaps all around for those doing the important work for all youth, like Antonio and Zelda in South Carolina.About The RevolutionariesAntonio BoydZelda Waymer

Mike Realon is the Career and Community Development Coordinator at Olympic High School in Charlotte, NC and helped lead the transformation of the school resulting in the school becoming ranked in the top 1% nationally for its “Career AND College Readiness” prowess based on career-focused project-based and experiential learning.  Clifton Vann is CEO of Hyde Park Partners (HPP), the holding company for Livingston & Haven, MRO Stop, and AEG International (AEG), all leaders in technology, advanced manufacturing, design, and engineering.  With Charlotte being ranked 50th of the top 50 largest cities in the United States for economic mobility, meaning the greater majority of youth growing up in poverty will fail to make a living wage, Olympic High School uses its career academies and over 700 industry partnerships – such as with Hyde Park Partners – to change that reality for most, through internships and career-focused learning.  Students are graduating from Olympic with a leg up on both gainful employment and education, in many cases becoming the breadwinners for their families given the skills, real-world work opportunities, and competencies they gain through their program.  Hear from Mike and Clifton as they each share the importance of this work not only for the individual lives of the youth they work with but for the well-being of their communities as well.About The RevolutionariesClifton VannMike Realon

James Harris & Dirk Tillotson preaching it from the heart of Oakland. They both have views of what is not working in our system of education through YEARS of experience.  James, from his schooling in Oakland to his being President of the Oakland Unified School District and now zealot for all things education for youth in Oakland.  Dirk Tillotson, a brother in arms, Founder and Executive Director of Great School Choices, who has devoted his life to improving schools for poor Black and Hispanic youth in Oakland, New York City, and beyond.  They talk about school funding, public investment in lower-income communities, and how federal money is and could be spent for youth and communities. They dig right in.  They see hope – but it will take a continued press from everyone to do the right thing. About The RevolutionariesJames HarrisDirk Tillots

We LOVE this episode because it is so AMAZING what Abhijit Sinha has been able to create (see Project DEFY: Design Education for Yourself).  His story itself is amazing.  He was taking the typical path, school to career, and realized he was much happier creating and making amazing things, so left the typical path and started a new one.  And began to create spaces where community members could do the same.  Sandeep Dutt, social entrepreneur, author of My Good School, Learning Forward podcaster, and HundrED ambassador,  adds his thoughts.  And our very good friend, Cath Fraise, founder of 100 Roads and Workspace Education, adds to the fun.  Hear how Abhijit has created self-directed, community-driven spaces of “creating, making, and doing,” where the community is creating their own learning and making their own solutions.About The RevolutionariesAbhijit SinhaSandeep DuttCatherine Fraise

Matt Coleman, CEO at Inflexion, Claire Brown, National Director of AVID Australia at Victoria University in Melbourne, and Vanessa Wilkins, Founder of Future School Lab and Expert-in-Residence at Harvard Innovation Lab, talk about the need to focus on WHO our students are, the development of their identity, and reframing the paradigm of schooling. Now there's a line-up! Grounded in years of experience reframing what we could and should be doing.About The RevolutionariesVanessa WilkinsClaire BrownMatt Coleman

We have a BRAVE conversation with Thabiti Brown, Head of School of the Codman Academy Charter Public School in Boston, and Juma Crawford, CEO of the Oakland Fund for Public Innovation, about race, equity, the purpose of school, and what is still needed post-pandemic in our society to give every youth the opportunity to thrive.  A powerful conversation that raised the ongoing challenges of race in our schools, communities, business, and society.  Powerful! If you listen and agree, let us know! Or if you have a different point of view, please ... let us know as well.About The RevolutionariesThabiti BrownJuma Crawford

Like our co-host Jim, Kyle was at High Tech High and learned a lot being there.  But then had the opportunity to start something new in Beijing and now lives in Hong Kong where he is active in support of teachers face-to-face and virtually, through a newsletter, and a great recent book!  As he says: "My purpose for being in education is simple: Save the planet by creating more globally, socially and emotionally aware citizens.  It's the imperative for our generation."  He goes on to say: "I am about action. The WHY for changing education is well established. We now need the HOW. Our current factory model is not producing the informed, critical thinking, inquisitive, curious problem-solvers our world so desperately needs."  Learn more on his two websites: www.kylewagner.net and transformschool.com. His YouTube Channel. And check out his book, The Power of Simple. A valuable educator doing what he can to support others to do what they can!About the RevolutionariesKyle Wagner

We need more equitable schooling.  And we need to transform education so that youth can flourish.  What is the purpose of school? If it is youth flourishing, what should be our metrics? And what should we be looking at in the environment surrounding our youth that supports their flourishing and full potential? Brandi Kenner and Erin Raab talk about their work in the Choice-filled Lives Network as well as the many other endeavors they have been part of and continue to engage in.  See here: choicefilledlives.org and the 100 Days of Conversations about School project. We are asking the wrong questions in the current schooling ecosystem. The question is: How do we create communities that contribute to the full potential and well-being of our youth!About the RevolutionariesBrandi KennerErin Raab

Sandeep and Kiran share their stories and their passion for changing how we support youth around their heart, love, making a better world, and relationships. And then Chris asks : For someone listening to this, what can THEY do?Sandeep Dutt is author of The Good School, founder of Learning Forward India and the Learning Forward podcast, Ambassador of hundred.org, Chairman of the Bhadrajun Artisans Trust,  entrepreneur, and mountaineer doing what he can to create "happy schools" for a better world.  Kiran Sethi is the founder of the Riverside School in India which has, over the last 20 years, become a  beacon of possibilities when you focus on students and empower them to make a difference in the world, which has subsequently created a global movement called Design for Change.     About the RevolutionariesKiran SethiSandeep Dutt

We talk with Melissa Mouton and Keith Hayes of 5280 High School in Denver and Tony Simmons and Joey Cienian of High School for the Recording Arts in St. Paul (MN) about how they engage youth in meaningful projects and offer them the kinds of personal supports that support them to be successful.About the RevolutionariesJoey CienianMelissa MoutonKeith HayesTony Simmons

Jim and Chris connected by way of an email from Jim who was intrigued by Chris' article in GettingSmart.com about "The Superhero Schools of Philadelphia."  After a few conversations, Chris asked Jim if he would like to join him in a second season of A Revolution in Education podcasts.  Jumping in, they decided they would reach out to those around the country and the world who have committed themselves to making a difference in the possibilities of youth through education, with a focus on their stories of revolutionary work.In this podcast, Jim and Chris talk about the need to connect and join arms in this effort.  There are many working hard to create opportunity for youth, but many of us continue to work independently of one another.  What happens if we link arms in our efforts to create opportunities for youth and inspire others to do the same?We "tease" the focus of this season in this conversation.About the RevolutionariesChris UngerJim McCue